The Portland daily press., 1887-01-25

IN our power their ChrlstianiZation and en-
reimbursement. Inc lines OF work pursued
the circulation OF literature adapted to its
object the circulation Of memorials to Con-
gress the securing popular meetings and ar
tlcles Tor the press; and the adoption of such
other measures as are in the judgment of the
executive Board best adapted TO accomplish
faithfully sought to do all this our Society
has also made an effort to provide means to
support missionary among some one of fine
sixty-six tribes still destitute of Christian
instrpctlon. rms object we did not attain,
put the mite which we raised for it we sent
to the National Association to be used with
other funds destined for the same purpose.
In october we met at the vestry OF Free
street church. and Mrs. Tuttle addressed MS.
All All present were,moyed by her remarks,com-
the government among the Indians when a
bride, and labored for twelve wears so faith
fully among them. At the close of the meet
ing several names were added to our men,
bershlp. In November we met at high street
church, and in the audience was MIS-. Bliss
the missionary from Constantinople. She
was prevailed upon to address us. and made
the following statement which interested all |:
IN the early days of foreign missions, the
Indians gave assistance to our missionary
work. and now the children of native mis-
sionarles have formed society and raise an
nually about $40 for the support of Indian
girls at Hampton, thus showing that heath
eTn turkey is helping Christian America in
the work OF converting her heathensp'
Our press work has been faithfully carried
on: Our library has been increased. Several
petltlons have been sent to Congress- and
dil1erent State Legislatures. We have held
during the year correspondence with several
OF the auxiliaries of the different States. re-
ceiving words of encouragement and giving
the same. An extensive correspondence
with the missionaries engaged in the yarions
helds mas also been carried on, in order to
oetter understand the work of the different
tribes, and to encourage the workers. We
have corres2onded with the Eastern schools.
we nave circulated several hundred copies
OF the. Annual Report" PRESIDENTS Ad-
dress" The Mohawk Correspondence.
ouggestlons OF Friends, and other literary
matter, and thousands Of pages of literature
bearing on the Indian question. We are
conndent that this report gives but faint
Idea OF the work required of us as an organ
lZatlon, and OF what we wish to obtain.
lhere Is mucn TO be done and room for many
workers. We hope our coming together to-
DAY VIII be the means of rousing some hith-
ert0 Indifferent. MAY we not claim from ali
present your future interest and sympathy.
your influence, aid and prayers?
Respectfully submitted,
SOPHIE Fl. WEBSTER,
Corresponding Secretary.
TREAsURER's REPORT.
Inc treasurer, Miss Hattie p Bailey, re-
ported that she had received $2O1 16 the past
year. A barrel of clothing was sent to the
hickaapo,os, iai a, :, valued at $50, and box was
were anxious to send their aid. The Asso-
clation owns twenty volumes written in the
interest OF the Indians, which they circulate
freely TO those interested.
PETITION COMMITTEES.
The petition committees reported ms peti-
IONS to Congress: The Indian Appropria-
ton Bill; the Dawes Sioux Bill, and the Sew
crafty Bill The Seyeralty Bin having
passed the Society will this winter turn itS
attention to the bill for the relief of the Mis-
sion Indians of California.
OFFICERS ELECTED.
President-Mrs. Myra E. Frye
Vice Presidents-Mrs. Elizabeth III Ronnev
pporrIland; Z rn; Miss M B. Stevens, Auburn; Miss j.
gusta. Au-
Recording secretary-NIiss Julia w. soule.
ster tepiiespohuilg Secretary-Mrs. Charles L. Web
Treasnrer-Miss Hattie P. Bailey
l.ibrarian-Miss George f. Thurston
Auditor Mrs Charles Ii. Daniels
Executive Board-Alrs. Alfred Woodman Mrs
a. A. e Cox, Mrs. George F. Thurston, Mrs A. l..
rill, Mrs. L. II. Cobb, Mrs. M. f. Gooid. Mrs.
Charles Rogers, Mrs. +. H. Boothby Mrs C *
Baker, Mrs Pooler, Mrs. Edwin Clement, Mrs
The following are the chairmen of depart
ment committees:
Current Indian News Mrs Howard Tavlor
PRESS Committee-Mrs. Charles Ogden.
Public Meetings-Mrs. Henry Blanchard.
Mission W0rk-Mrs. j. Il. Mcdowell
Friendly Relations with w. C. I. U.-Mrs Geo
S. Hunt.
Petitions-Mrs. Elizabeth H. Bonney.
The meeting was very interesting through
out. Several delegates from different parts
OF the State were present. The Auburn
society was represented by Mrs. Pulsifer
and the Bangor society by Mrs DEMO.
Blankets woven by the Navajos were on
exhibition and were much admired.
THE EVENING MEETING.
The evening meeting in the Second Par
ism church was interesting, but was not
largely attended. The officers Of the Asso-
citation and Rev. Messrs. Pepper, Small and
Ogden occupied seats upon the platform with
the pastor, Mr.. Daniels. After singing by
the choir, reading from the Scriptures bv
Mr.. Daniels and prayer by DIR. Small, Presi.
dent Pepper of Colby University was intro
duced by Mr.. Daniels as the speaker of the
evening.
Dr. Pepper, in the course of his address.
gave the reasons for his own interest in the
Indian question. The first of these reasons
IL
erhood of man. Men are willing and eager
to recognize their equals as brothers, but it
is easy for them to think that those people in
degraded condition of life are lower
class of beings. Those who are TODAY work
ing for thesbetter treatment of the Indians
realize stheir true nature and their right to
claim position as men. Another reason
advanced by Dr. Pepper for his interest in
the question is the intelligence and ability
for improvement evinced by the Indians.
The Indians have always possessed a sense
of honor and are capable of great heroism
and endurance. Their religious beliefs
should not be forgotten.
As his third reason, DR.. Pepper referred to
the history of the Indians. Can we fail to
have an interest in the mystery which en-
shrouds their past? We call them the abo-
rigines. but when and from where did they
come? Scientists have studied the question
OF their origin, but who has yet answered it
satisfactorily to himself or others? If
mystery OIL ancestry Will interest us in an
Individual surely such mystery will inter-
est us In race. One thing which will in
terest us in them is that where we live, they
once lived. Here they lived and loved and
nad their sorrows. They owned our State,
lts pays and rivers, its mountains and val
iieys. Where. they expected to continue to
live, we now have our homes. 1t is not in
man to disregard band like this. Had the
Indians retired of their free will from their
lands, for due reward, it would only be
human for us, their successors, to feel an
interest in them, but we know that they did
not leave of their own free will. Doubtless,
God intended this country to be settled by
the white men. The white men, however.
sinned in their treatment of the Indians
The Indians have hppn and
wr0nged, the greater part of the blame rest
inc in fine government e tha oovornn,ant